---
title: "Newcastle United: Saudis planned to sign Hamza Choudhury, Demarai Gray, Callum Wilson and Mauro Icardi before takeover fail"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-saudis-transfer-plans-choudhury-gray-icardi-wilson/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Bournemouth"
published: "2020-08-05T12:50:30Z"
modified: "2020-08-05T12:50:30Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Saudis planned to sign Hamza Choudhury, Demarai Gray, Callum Wilson and Mauro Icardi before takeover fail

**The Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group planned to sign four players if the proposed takeover of Newcastle United had not fallen through, according to the [Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/) (via [NUFC 360](https://twitter.com/NUFC360)).**

As per the outlet, those players were Leicester duo Hamza Choudhury and Demarai Gray, Bournemouth ace Callum Wilson and now Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi.

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Indeed, the former three could have given Steve Bruce a wealth of Premier League experience going into the new 2020/21 season, with [Choudhury playing in 37 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/hamza-choudhury/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/341501/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=), [Gray in 132 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/demarai-gray/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/292417/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) and [Wilson making 126 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-wilson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/123682/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) in the English top flight.

Icardi could have offered them a greater goal-scoring threat, with a relatively impressive 185 goals in 324 club appearances for Sampdoria, Inter Milan and PSG, according to [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mauro-icardi/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/68863).

The Saudi-led group also planned to make significant changes to the backroom staff at St James’ Park, with Bruce potentially keeping his job as the manager in the northeast.

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The buying side would have helped out with the Newcastle United foundation with sizeable donations and also support the Wallsend Boys Club and Great North Run in attempt to invest in the local community, as well as purchasing players for the Magpies on the pitch.

> Amanda Staveley’s consortium planned to:
>
> – Sign Choudhury, Demarai Gray, C. Wilson and Icardi\
> – Make significant changes to backroom staff \
> – Help out the Newcastle United foundation with sizeable donations \
> – Support Wallsend Boys Club and Great North Run
>
> \[Mirror\] [#nufc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nufc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — NUFC360 (@NUFC360) [August 3, 2020](https://twitter.com/NUFC360/status/1290378609081962496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

However, with the would-be owners cutting the wire on their own £300m deal with Mike Ashley, this is all perhaps a dream unless the bid could somehow be resurrected by the English Premier League (EPL).

Nevertheless, it is all speculation up until this moment in time unless the EPL can cooperate with the buyers and therefore get any possible deal back on track.

***Geordies, can you see the takeover being resurrected? Comment below with your views!***